Keith Urban - Days Go By Lyrics
Lyrics
Changin' lanes and talkin' on the phone
Drivin' way too fast
The interstate's jammed with gunners like me
Afraid of comin' in last
But somewhere in the race we run
We're comin' undone.
Days go by
I can feel them flyin'
Like a hand out the window in the wind
Cars go by
Yeah, it's all we've been given
So you better start livin' right now
'Cause days go by.
I was on the roof just the other night
And watched the world flash by
Headlights, taillights and runnin' through the river
Of neon signs
But somewhere in the rush I felt
We're losin' ourselves.
Days go by
I can feel them flyin'
Like a hand out the window in the wind
Cars go by
Yeah, it's all we've been given
So you better start livin' right now
'Cause days go by.
We think about tomorrow, then it slips away
We talk about forever but we've only got today.
Days go by
I can feel them flyin'
Like a hand out the window as the cars go by
Yeah, it's all we've been given
So you'd better start livin'
We'd better start livin'
We'd better start livin' right now.
Days go by
I can feel them flyin'
Like a hand out the window in the wind
Cars go by
Yeah, it's all we've been given
So you better start livin' right now
'Cause days go by.
'Cause days go by
Oh, so take them by the hand
They're yours and mine
Take them by the hand
And live your life
Take them by the hand
Don't let them all fly by
Come on
Come on now
Don't you know the days go by...
Video
Keith Urban - Days Go By (Official Music Video)
Meaning & Inspiration
Keith Urban's "Days Go By," released in 2006 as part of his *Greatest Hits* compilation, offers a poignant reflection on the relentless passage of time and the urgent need for mindful living. The song’s narrative immediately establishes a sense of hurriedness and distraction, with imagery of changing lanes, phone conversations, and the competitive nature of modern life. This frantic pace, Urban suggests, leads to a state of being "undone" and "los[ing] ourselves" amidst the constant rush. The central metaphor of days flying by, like a hand out a car window in the wind, powerfully captures the ephemeral nature of our moments. This sentiment strongly resonates with scriptural teachings about the brevity of life, such as Psalm 90:10, which states, "The length of our days is seventy years—or eighty, if we have the strength; yet their span is but trouble and sorrow, for they are soon gone and we fly away." The song’s core message, encapsulated in the repeated plea to "start livin' right now," serves as a compelling call to seize the present. This echoes the wisdom found in Ecclesiastes 9:7-10, which advises, "Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine with a joyful heart, for God has already approved what you do. Always be clothed in white, and always anoint your head with oil. Enjoy life with your wife, whom you love, all the days of this meaningless life that God has given you under the sun—all your meaningless days. For this is your lot in life and the toil of your hands under the sun. Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom." The lyrics explicitly contrast our tendency to dwell on the future ("think about tomorrow") with the reality of our present existence ("we've only got today"). This philosophical stance aligns with Jesus' admonition in Matthew 6:34: "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." The song’s final exhortation to "take them by the hand" and not let the days "all fly by" is an inspiring call to active engagement with life, a concept deeply rooted in biblical principles of stewardship and intentionality. It urges us to approach each day with purpose, recognizing its divine gift and the opportunity it presents for growth, love, and service. The overwhelming message is one of awakening from a passive existence to one of conscious, deliberate living, honoring the preciousness of each fleeting moment bestowed upon us.